Ospreys boss Steve Tandy calls for greater financial help for regions to succeed

Ospreys boss Steve Tandy believes the Welsh regions need financial help if they are to flourish in Europe.

Ospreys boss Steve Tandy believes the Welsh regions need financial help if they are to flourish in Europe.

Tandy spoke out after the worst European campaign in Welsh history was confirmed, the Ospreys’ 15-15 draw with Leicester Tigers signalling the end of their interest in the Heineken Cup.

The Blues and the Scarlets have yet to register a pool victory between them, while the Dragons have only beaten Italian opposition in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

“We need help, financial help and more time to prepare players,” said Tandy.

“It’s well documented we can’t compete financially with some teams in Europe.

But Tandy attempted to put a brave face on the Ospreys’ elimination by talking up the rebuilding work being done at the region.

“We are not going to make excuses because we think the future is bright for the Ospreys,” he said.

“Money helps but it can’t buy you a team.

“Irrelevant of who wears the shirt, we are looking to build a side.

“It’s been well documented that we can’t compete with others, but with the likes of Kahn Fotuali’i, Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop, Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Jones and James King – who I thought was sensational against Leicester – we believe the future is bright.

“When you look back at the Heineken Cup campaign it has been a real positive one for us because we have found out a hell of a lot about our young kids.”

The sorry campaign comes to an end this weekend with the Scarlets hosting Pool Five leaders Clermont Auvergne and desperate to avoid a first whitewash since the 2007-08 campaign.

Phil Davies, who was sacked as coach of the Scarlets in the fall-out which followed, will expect his current Blues side to notch up a morale-raising success against Aviva Premiership bottom club Sale at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday.

The Ospreys are third in Pool Two but none of the Welsh teams can finish second in their groups to earn the chance of being parachuted into the Amlin Challenge Cup.

The Dragons are already out of that tournament after losing twice to Dai Young’s London Wasps and Mike Phillips’ Bayonne with their pair of victories coming over Italian part-timers Mogliano.

The future of the Heineken Cup in its current format is in serious doubt with next season’s tournament the last unless a peace deal can be brokered between the Celtic nations, Italy, England and France.

Talks have broken down with the English and French adamant they will pull out unless their demands are met.

One of them is for the 24-team tournament to be cut to 20 with qualification from the RaboDirect being decided on finishing positions, not on Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy being guaranteed places.

They want the Heineken Cup to be contested by its holders, the previous season’s Amlin Challenge Cup winners and the top six from the Aviva Premiership, French Championship Top 14 and the RaboDirect Pro12.

A Welsh side has not reached the Heineken Cup final since the Cardiff club side were beaten by Toulouse in the inaugural competition of 1996.

The current Welsh position is not helped by the Scarlets and Blues being ranked alongside Zebre, Treviso, Glasgow and Edinburgh as the only teams not to have won a match in this season’s Heineken Cup.

Even Ireland’s weakest province, Connacht, has been more successful, registering two victories, while England and France’s combined total of 13 representatives have all racked up winning points.

WalesOnline is part of Media Wales, publisher of the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday and the seven Celtic weekly titles, offering you unique access to our audience across Wales online and in print.